The pursuits of family histories are challenging from so many perspectives. Interviews with family members were difficult. Old black families do not talk about their histories; knowledge remained buried deep in the minds of older family members and often times buried in closets or old trunks. Family interviews worked more effectively when interviewing family members born post 1930.
The use of Ancestry Dotcom did not yield useful information for our black families. Eighteenth and nineteenth century slavery were big factors contributing to not finding family connections. Nothing is documented! Family researchers must find other sources of information such as Wills, letters, family bibles, and special slave records such as those at the Kentucky Historical Society. Building the Dickerson/Bush stories utilized this historical information.
To enhance the depth of this family history, we produced ethnicity estimates through DNA analysis. Work was completed for Willard Curtis Wright, Margaret Wright Horne and Charles Wilson Dickerson III. As you can see in the last part of the family history section, the DNA of Charles revealed a strong presence of Great Britain and Irish blood lines, sixty percent. The British lines were not surprising, but the Irish blood lines were a revelation. Since we knew very little about the Missouri Blackwell family history, we suspected that this was the Irish source.
Another interesting set of results from the DNA analysis was the discovery of no DNA linkage to an alleged sister of Emily Talbot, Caroline Talbot. The analysis of these results meant that some family members were not family! We had carefully researched the records of the Talbot family and could not find any information regarding Caroline’s existence or background. The DNA work proved no blood family relationships, and these results were difficult for some family members to accept. Caroline’s relationship with Emily was accepted for years.
We did not have the time or the resources to find all family members in the Bush/family history. The generations born after 1970 were not complete. Future family researchers will have to undertake this challenge and add to the family history book. Also, our 16th, 17th, and 18th century family histories are sparse. Clearly, more work must be done to complete this very old family history.
White ancestors were very much in the Bush/Dickerson family history. We discovered where much of that existed, but so much more needs to be discovered. Moreover, we have only touched the Native American blood on both sides of the family. Research on these bloodlines will be a difficult challenge given the paucity of known records. We suspect more information exists, but where?
As you read this family history document, please note we have deliberately attempted to list only direct line family relationships where possible, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, 1st, 2nd and 3rd cousins. We made little mention of extended families such as 4th and 5th cousins and extended aunts and uncles. So, you will see only on Judith Bush Dickerson paternal side, the Bushes and Rodgers and on her maternal side, the Wheelers, Thomas, Gaines, and Jones. We listed on the Charles Wilson Dickerson III paternal side, the Talbots, Burns, Dickersons, Blackwells, Allens and on his maternal side, the Fletchers and the Prices. The next family generation will do the future work to update the remaining members of the family tree.
We have sourced all data in the Endnotes. We also gave special recognition to those family members who diligently pursued uncovering the history of this family. Some family members spent much of their adult lives in this research. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude. Thank you, thank you!!!